[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Ahead on News 7 at noon, A string of deadly highway pileups due to weather conditions.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And a new company brings jobs to the Henry County area.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Henry-Industry]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=New Jobs]
A new company bringing 40 new jobs to an area hard hit by plant closings..
Blue Ridge Technology will set up shop in Henry County.
It's a start-up company that makes paint and ink.
Economic development officials say the jobs will pay about nine dollars an hour, and by this time next year they hope to have 100 employees.
The new plant is located in the Patriot Center Industrial Park.
We'll have more about Blue Ridge Technology later today on News-7 at Five and News-7 at Six.
[school-RAPES]
[ANCHOR=MELANIE]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The city of Detroit is organizing a major effort to stop a wave of terror aimed at young school girls.
In a city alarmed by the rapes of at least eight school girls in the last two months, the mayor is calling for an Army of volunteers to patrol the street this morning.
Drew Levinson reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:14:07]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Detroit, MI; :00]
[SUPER=01-Brittany Sheldon/High School Student; :28 QUICK]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/Reporting; :49]
[RUNS=:58]
[OUT Q=CBS News, Detroit.]
(( FROM AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM-DETROIT'S MAYOR DENNIS ARCHER WENT LIVE ON CITYWIDE TELEVISION LAST NIGHT TO MOBILIZE WHAT HE CALLS THE
SAFE STREETS INITIATIVE.
(SOT FROM TV)
"Now is time for every Detroiter to do what he or she can do to make our streets safer."
(NATSOUND PROTESTS )
"No Safety, no school! No Safety, no school."
THIS CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS FOLLOWS PROTESTS BY STUDENTS WHO WALKED OUT OF CLASS. THEY CLAIMED SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND POLICE WEREN'T PAYING ENOUGH
ATTENTION.
(SOT BRITTANY SHELDEN/10TH GRADE)
"I Don't know why they are not taking it serious, but is very serious.
(SOT NO SUPER)
"What is the point of education, if we can't be safe."
THE MAYOR WANTS STUDENTS TO WALK TO SCHOOL IN GROUPS. HE'S ALSO ASKING
PARENTS AND THOUSANDS OF CITY WORKERS TO PATROL THE STEETS TO PROTECT
THEM. A POLICE OFFICER IS BEING STATIONED IN EVERY ONE OF THE CITY'S 263
SCHOOLS.
(PLUS DREW LEVINSON O/C CLOSE)))
[CO-Accident]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
At least two people are dead and several more injured in a fiery 20 car pileup on highway today in eastern Ohio.
This is just the latest in a string of highway pileups.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Golden, CO/Yesterday;]
[3:05;16]
Two people were killed and 29 injured in a 83 car crash near Denver.
Police say one car traveling too fast for the foggy and icy conditions spun out of control.
Cars unable to stop then began sliding into each other.
Some motorists-- seeing what happened-- ran from their vehicles.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[3:05:35]
[IN Q=I got stopped in time]
[SUPER=01-Brian Armstrong/Motorist;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=saw my car hit on]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
At least seven of the injured remain hospitalized this afternoon.
(------------)
[Clinton-Kosovo]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bill Clinton]
President Clinton is due back in Washington tonight, wrapping up a ten-day European trip.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ferizaj, Kosovo;]
[7:00:44]
He received a hero's welcome when he made a stop in Kosovo today to thank American troops for helping to bring order to the war-torn Yugoslav province.
He also urged ethnic Albanians to make peace and end the revenge attacks on rival Serbs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[7;01]
[IN Q=You can never]
((CLINTON:KOSOVARS HAVE RETURNED-NO MORE HIDING-YOU CAN NEVER FORGET INJUSTICE THAT WAS DONE TO YOU--NO ONE CAN FORCE YOU TO FORGIVE BUT YOU CAN TRY -CHEERING -AMERICANS WILL STAND WITH YOU--GOD BLESS YOU ALL -VS/CHEERING))
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=God bless you all]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Five months after NATO's air campaign ended, Kosovo is still plagued by ethnic bloodshed.
And with winter closing in, thousands still lack proper shelter.
(------------)
[Lee-County]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
Four men associated with Lee County Community Hospital in Pennington Gap have been indicted on racketeering and fraud charges.
Hospital Administrator Jim Davis is charged with taking more than a million dollars in kick-backs on outside contracts.
He's also accused of using hospital employees-- on company time-- to maintain his home, including cleaning the swimming pool.
The government alleges Davis got narcotics from the hospital for his friends.
Doctor Richard Norton and Attorney Charlie Fugate are also named in the indictment.
[NFL-Teacher]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-58 TC00:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Lynchburg teacher has scored big with the National Football League.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Phyllis Hicks picked up the NFL's Teacher of the Month award today.
On hand for the announcement was a former pupil, Ruben Brown of the Buffalo Bills.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's so exciting]
((PHYLLIS HICKS/E.C. GLASS TEACHER: IT'S SO EXCITING. I FEEL I REPRESENT THE MANY EXCELLENT TEACHERS AT E.C. GLASS AND THE LYNCHBURG CITY SCHOOLS. IT'S A WONDERFUL HONOR.))
[SUPER=01-Phyllis Hicks/E. C. Glass Teacher;]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=wonderful honor.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Ms. Hicks gets a 25-hundred dollar grant from the league.
E. C. Glass will receive an additional 5-thousand dollars.
(------------)
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
V-Dot is trying to ease holiday travel worries.
That's just one of the stories still ahead on News-7 at Noon
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And firefighters are trying to stamp out a huge blaze at a Portland shoe factory.
First let's talk to Patrick Evans.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[Portland-fire]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
Firefighters this afternoon are working to put out the flames at a Portland shoe factory.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Portland, OR;]
[10:04:50]
It began early this morning.
There are no reports of injuries, although firefighters had to be pulled off the building after the roof collapsed.
[SUPER=03-New York, NY; :09]
[11:02:15]
Meantime, a roof collapse at a construction site in New York City has left one person dead and several more injured.
Officials say workers were pouring cement on the third story of a new office building when the floor gave way.
Firefighters described rescue efforts as a battle with quicksand, saying the workers were trapped in the wet cement.
(------------)
[Traffic-bottlenecks]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
If you travel to Washington D-C frequently it probably won't surprise you to hear that the nation's capital and Northern Virginia are home to some of the the worst traffic bottlenecks in the country.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;]
[10;59:31]
A study by the American Highway Users Alliance also ranked Los Angeles as a traffic nightmare.
[SUPER=03-Washington DC;]
The groups says the problems could be solved by providing additional road capacity at key points.
It also recommends carpooling, public transportation, longer entrance ramps and moveable barriers.
(------------)
[Holiday-construction]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Holiday Travel]
Holiday travelers in Virginia will have to deal
with lots of other cars on the road over Thanksgiving... but at least they shouldn't face construction delays.
V-Dot will suspend highway construction across the state starting at noon tomorrow.
Work won't resume until noon Monday.
There are still lane closings around construction zones, though.
[E-City-Water]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-38 1:16:52]
[GRAPHIC=Water Shortage]
As the drought and mandatory water restrictions have fallen from the headlines, conservation has also fallen short.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove]
The water level at Roanoke's main reservoir is now 17- point- nine feet below the spillway.
Typically, Roanokers have been saving between 20 and 40 million gallons of water a week... compared with the same period a year ago.
But recently, that figure has dropped.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 03:58:32]
[IN Q=It's something I have to say]
((CARRIE PRATT/ROANOKE RESIDENT: IT'S NOT SOMETHING I HAVE TO SAY I THINK ALL THE TIME, BUT MAYBE I'LL START THINKING ABOUT IT MORE NOW.))
[SUPER=01-Carrie Pratt/Roanoke Resident;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=about it more now.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
City officials hope a new round of reminders will encourage water customers to conserve again.
[Monocan-Remains]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Monacan Indian Nation has won a battle to
get back the remains of more than 100 ancestors.
Last May, the tribe tried to convince a federal panel that it was entitled to 49 cartons of human bones that were unearthed 98 years ago in Rockbridge County.
But the panel said it needed more information about the remains.
The tribe and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources resubmitted the request last month with more information
The panel endorsed the request last week at a meeting Salt Lake City.
[E-State-Revenues]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-45 50:31]
[GRAPHIC=Va. Budget]
Virginia is already expecting a big budget surplus, now there's more good financial news.
The Gilmore Administration reports revenue collections up almost 11-percent for the first four months of this fiscal year.
That's mostly due to individual income tax collections rising more than 16-percent over last year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/November 1998;]
That means wages are on the rise -- which state budget writers say should lead to the best shopping season in Virginia this decade.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 03:33 ]
[IN Q=Solid consumer]
((RON TILLETT/VIRGINIA FINANCE SECRETARY: SOLID CONSUMER FUNDAMENTALS ARE EXPECTED TO BOOST HOLIDAY SALES ABOVE THE STRONG RESULTS OF LAST YEAR'S HOLIDAY SEASON. IT REALLY IS THE BEST OF TIMES IN VIRGINIA.))
[SUPER=@Tillett;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=best of times in Virginia.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[SS=Tobacco Settlement]
Meanwhile, the Gilmore administration wants to spend a big chunk of Virginia's tobacco settlement money and federal highway funds up front, rather than spreading the settlement money over 25 years.
Under the plan presented yesterday, the state would take the 600 million in a lump sum.
The arrangement is similar to the way Lotto winners can take a reduced prize up front, rather than the full amount over a longer term.
[5-Tech-Audit]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=599-15 53:36]
[GRAPHIC=Tech Audit]
Virginia Tech Police say they'll seek indictments against a man who taught engineering classes at the University.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Police say Arthur Degener (DEGG-ner) -- seen here in a 19-88 yearbook picture -- may have embezzled about 98-thousand dollars in state funds.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
Degener went back to Tech last year, working on his P-H-D and teaching undergraduates.
During that time, the school authorized him to buy supplies for a lab renovation project.
But this summer an internal audit suggested he may have spent money on himself.
Now ... Tech police say Degener may have embezzled about 98-thousand dollars.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[graphic=HOLD]
No charges have been filed against (Deg-ner) Degener.
He declined to talk to News-7 and his lawyer did not return our calls.
[Rockbridge-Shelter]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Domestic Violence]
110 women died in Virginia last year as a result of domestic violence.
That's one reason Rockbridge County is opening its first domestic violence shelter for women.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]
This home that will keep battered women safe has brought a community together by raising money and literally raising the walls.
[SUPER=@file]
The shelter is named Lisa's House after Rockbridge County resident and school counselor Lisa Knick.
In 1990 her husband, who was a police officer, shot and killed her.
That inspired the Timberframers guild to donate the wooden frames for the house.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think the most]
((GREGG MULLEN/TIMBERFRAMERS GUILD: I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT PART ABOUT THIS IS LIKE THE OLD TIME BARN RAISING A NUMBER OF PEOPLE CAN BE INVOLVED A BIG COMMUNITY EFFORT AND IN A DAY YOU HAVE A HOUSE.))
[SUPER=01-Gregg Mullen/Timberframers Guild; ]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=have a house]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The shelter will house 16 women and children and should be open by the end of the year.
(------------)
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
The hokies don't even know which bowl they're headed to yet, but thousands of ticket requests are flooding in.
Find out how you can get on the list when News-7 at Noon returns.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And Bob Hope lights up the "happiest place on earth."
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[E-Hokie-Tickets]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-41 52:49]
[GRAPHIC=Hokie Ticket Frenzy]
Today's the deadline to postmark your application for Tech bowl tickets.
But only alumni contributors and season ticket holders can apply in advance.
Tina Tenret explains.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Try getting tickets]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :01]
[SUPER=01-Harry Parks/Class of '48; :33]
[SUPER=@Tina2; :55]
[RUNS=1:05]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7 Blacksburg]
(( Try getting tickets to see Virginia Tech play in the Sugar Bowl and you'll hit this block.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:23:21]
[IN Q=I don't know]
((NAT SOT: I DON'T KNOW WHAT BOWL WE'RE GOING TO. WE MAY GO TO ANOTHER BOWL. WE HAVE QUALIFIED FOR A BCS BOWL BUT I D
ON'T KNOW WHICH ONE. THERE'S THREE OF THEM THERE, REALLY FOUR. AND I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE WE'RE GOING TO.))
[RUNS= :12]
[OUT Q=WE'RE GOING TO]
Virginia Tech is not selling tickets to ANY bowl game -- yet.
But about 6-thousand alumni contributors and season ticket holders have applied in advance.
Harry Parks -- class of 48 -- bets he'll get a seat.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:27:00]
[IN Q=Nobody will have]
((NOBODY WILL HAVE A BETTER FOLLOWING AT THE BOWL GAME THAN US ... AFTER WE LEFT THEY WEREN'T SO CRITICAL.))
[RUNS= :16]
[OUT Q=SO CRITICAL]
Tickets go to advance applicants first -- then students -- then the general public.
Meantime the football team's focusing on a short-term goal -- beat Boston College this Friday to stay undefeated.
Tina Tenret News7 Blacksburg.))
[Hope-Lights]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Bob Hope is still swinging after all these years.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;]
[3:33:04]
The 96 year old entertainer helped kick off Christmas last night at Disneyland.
With the ceremonial smack of a golf ball he turned on all the holiday lights at one the happiest place on earth.
In years past, Hope has spent the holiday season entertaining U-S troops in hot spots around the world.
But these days he's sticking closer to home with wife Dolores.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was DOWN 62 points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still to come in sports, the Denver Broncos win a shocker against Oakland in last night's pro grid iron action,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
and the Great One adds another chapter to his unforgettable career.
Patrick has the details, next.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[Broncos-Raiders]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]
The Denver Broncos stunned Oakland last night as their overtime rally led to a 27 to 21 win.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Denver, CO/NFL - ABC;]
The Broncos led throughout the first half, but a second half comeback put the Raiders up 21-18 late in the fourth.
With seven seconds left in regulation, Denver's Jason Elam booted this 53 yard field goal to tie the game at 21.
In overtime, Trevor Pryce gets all over Q-B Rich Gannon, and he fumbles the ball.
That proved costly for Oakland. On the next play, Olandis Gary goes left and scampers into the zone for the winning score with two-34 left.
Denver held on in the remaining minutes to win it 27 to 21.
(------------)
[S-BCS]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-55 2055tc]
[GRAPHIC=TECH Football]
Florida State and Virginia Tech are still number one and two respectively in the Bowl Championship Series rankings, but Nebraska is closing in.
The Cornhuskers have moved up to get within 6 tenths of a point behind the Hokies.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Philadelphia, PA/Saturday; :00]
Tech wrapped up the Big East title this past Saturday by beating Temple 62-to-7.
The Huskers managed to shave more than one and three quarter points off the lead Tech had last week in the poll.
But Nebraska may have gone as high it can go.
If Tech beats Boston College on Friday, it appears it won't matter what Nebraska does the rest of the way.
Right now the Hokies' hopes are for an unbeaten regular season and not the Sugar Bowl.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'Ve seen.]
[SUPER=01-Nick Sorensen/Va. Tech Free Safety; :00]
[super=01-Ike Charlton/Va. Tech Cornerback; :13]
[super=01-Shayne Graham/Va. Tech Kicker; :35]
[RUNS=:43]
[OUT Q=...SEASON FOR US."]
(XXXXXXXXX)
[WIPE TO PINNACLE BOARD VT-BC]
You had better hit the stores early on the day after Thanksgiving because this Friday's game can be seen right here on Your Hometown Station starting at 2:30.
Lane Stadium is sold out.
(XXXXXXXX)
[wiipe to pinnacle hokie high 6642]
Plus, the News 7 sports team will have something a little different for you after the game on Friday - a LIVE half hour post game show from outside Worsham Field.
Hope you and yours can join us for both the game and the post game show on Friday.
(--------------)
[Gretzky]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Wayne Gretzky]
It was a night to celebrate for Number 99 and only fitting that he become a hall of famer before the new millenium.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Toronto, Canada/NHL - TSN]
Last night, Wayne Gretzky returned to Canada to become one of the newest inductees into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The Hall's board of directors waived its normal three year waiting period for Gretzky.
He was inducted just two months after his retirement and became only the tenth player to enter without the mandatory waiting period.
Gretzky was honored by former teammates and other hockey luminaries, some of whose records he shattered during an unparalleled 20-year career.
The Great One holds the N-H-L records for most points with 2,857, goals at 894, and assists with 1,963.
(------------)
by SS